Page 10 of Follow Me to Your Heart

“Have you talked to Sienna?” Taylor questioned as I finished packing my suitcase.

“Not seriously like we need to, but I plan to pop up on her once I’m back at home. It’s crazy because I feel like she knows she’s wrong for how she handled things the night of the party and doesn’t want to admit it. I don’t know. I could be wrong, but it’s not like her to shut down like this.”

“One, she was dead ass wrong. Two, has she always been like that? I mean, I remember you saying she was acting differently at the beginning of the semester, so it doesn’t seem out of character for her.”

I shook my head and closed my suitcase. “She hasn’t, which is why I’m concerned. She was acting differently, but nothing like she is now. For her to drunkenly go off with some random like that was out of character for her.”

“Do you think it was because of me?”

“No, Tay. It definitely wasn’t you. She may have been jealous you were around, but her actions were solely because of her.”

With her lips pursed together, Taylor bobbed her head in understanding. I was grateful she didn’t press it anymore. Sienna was one of my soft spots, so for her to be acting the way she was what truly bothered me. We had texted here and there, but it wasn’t the same.

Fall break was upon us, and I couldn’t have been more elated.

The first few weeks of class had been stressful on top of me keeping my mental health together.

The twelve credit classes I was taking had me reconsidering my choices for next semester, but I was determined to push through.

My goal was to graduate a year early by taking classes through the summer as well.

I wanted to get an early start on my career, and I was already amid it.

There was a knock at the door, so I skipped to the front to open it for Cage. He was taking Taylor and me to Camden Cove for the week and promised to hang with me for a few days. I hoped he was able to keep his word, but I never knew when the streets were calling.

“Aw, Cage!” I gushed as he handed me a bouquet of white lilies. “What are these for?”

“Just because you were on my mind, and you’ve had a rough few weeks. Anything to put a smile on your face and relieve some of your stress.”

“Thank you. You can be sweet when you want to be.”

Cage walked in and playfully brushed by me. “I’m always sweet to you. You’re the only person who gets that type of treatment twenty-four seven. Not even my mama or Symone can, so you know you’re special.”

“I better be.”

I walked up to Cage and kissed his cheek. As I tried to walk away, he gently tugged me back by the arm and wrapped his arms around me. My face nuzzled into his neck as I embraced him back with my free arm. No matter what, the moment I was in Cage’s arms, nothing else mattered.

I was safe.

I was loved.

I was home.

Cage was like a security blanket for me. With him, I never had to question anything but my true feelings. My love for him was beginning to grow into something far more than what I should feel for a friend.

“Hey, Cage!” Taylor greeted as she waltzed into the room. I released Cage and went to the kitchen to put my lilies in some water. As he and Taylor talked, I couldn’t help but to admire him.

Whenever he had his locs up in a wild ponytail, it did something to me.

I wasn’t sure whether it was because I could fully see his handsome face or because it added to his bad boy appeal, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Cage.

As if he didn’t look good enough, he was dressed in all-black with his favorite silver chain around his neck and diamond stud in his ear.

I was so engrossed with taking Cage in, I didn’t realize Taylor had been calling my name.

I quickly turned the water off before the vase overflowed.

Slowly, my eyes landed on Taylor whose lips were pulled up at the corners.

“Yes, Taylor?”

“I called your name like three times, and you didn’t hear me. Where’s your mind at?”

Discreetly, I gave her the finger and replied, “Getting on the road. Y’all ready?”

Without waiting for either of them to respond, I trekked back toward my room to get my suitcase.

Seconds later, I felt Cage behind me. He pressed his body against mine and rested his chin on my shoulder.

A chill traveled up my spine, but the warmth of love radiating from Cage’s body provided the heat and comfort to relax me.

I peered at him over my shoulder and tugged at his beard.

“What’s on your mind, Cage?”

“What makes you think something is on my mind?”

I nudged my shoulder for him to move, but he stayed put. “It hurts my shoulder when you talk, but I know something is on your mind because I feel it, so what’s up? Don’t hold out on me.”

Cage straightened his posture, reached around me, and grabbed my suitcase off the bed. “I’m good, KoKo. Just hoping nothing ruins my next few days with you, that’s all.”

“There are only two things that would ruin it.”

“One of those things is out of my control. The other, I already blocked her the day you mentioned it, so you have nothing to worry about with her.”

“I better not, or we will have some problems.”

“You act like I can’t handle the problems you give. I can handle you better than anyone else.”

I snickered, amused at his confidence. “Oh, really?”

“Yes, even when you don’t want me to. I know I’m your soft spot just as you are mine. You handle my problems well too. That’s how we are.”

“You got a point.” I waved my index finger at him as I walked past him.

Cage grabbed Taylor’s bag, and we headed out to his car. I texted my daddy to let him know I would be there soon, and he informed me he had a surprise for me. No matter how hard I tried to pry it out of him, he wouldn’t budge. He kept telling me I’d see when I got there.

“I don’t know why the two of you just won’t make it official,” Taylor stated.

I glared at her through the mirror and wanted to slap the smirk off her lips.

Not wanting to feed into her craziness, I waved her off and watched Cage through the rearview.

He was on the phone, and from the scowl etched on his handsome face, the conversation wasn’t going well.

Our eyes connected, and he winked at me.

My head lowered to hide the heat turning my cheeks red.

Taylor snickered. “I saw that.”

“You get on my nerves. You know that, right?”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way. Is everything good? Cage seems upset.”

“Yeah, I know. I guess we’re about to find out why.”

Seconds later, Cage hopped in the driver’s seat and released a frustrated breath. He scrubbed his hands down his face before turning to look at me.

“What’s wrong?” I questioned.

“Some shit came up. Y’all mind taking a ride with me?”

“Ooo!” Taylor exclaimed, leaning against my seat. “Is this about to be a dangerous ride?”

Cage and I shared a laugh. He glanced back at her and explained. “One thing I’ll never do is put y’all in harm’s way. If some shit was about to go down, I would leave y’all here. I gotta roll up on my boy right quick before we hit the road.”

Taylor sat back with a bitter smile. I giggled and shook my head. She wanted something to go down, but Cage wasn’t like that.

Several minutes later, we were pulling up at Red’s house. Cage called to let him know he was outside and excused himself. Taylor’s nosy self was all against the window, trying to see Red.

“Dang, girl. Back up,” I teased.

“I think I need to get out so Cage can introduce me to his friend. What’s his name?”

“Red.”

“Mmm. Well, Red looks like he’s my type.”

“He is, but he’s no good. He’s more about the streets than Cage is, and you know how that can be.”

“Yeah, no. He’s fine, but I don’t have time to be up all times of the night worried about his life or another bitch. I’ll simply admire from afar.”

“That’s the best thing to do.”

That was another reason I’d never be willing to admit my true feelings for Cage.

His lifestyle was one I constantly worried about.

While I knew he was careful and cautious, anything could happen.

I’d be physically and emotionally sick if so.

To have those strings attached would only make things worse.

To have those strings attached would change everything for us, and I wasn’t quite sure my heart could handle it.

“Daddy!” I screamed, hopping out the vehicle before Cage could put it in park and running to my father. When I was in his arms, safe and secure, I shed a few tears. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too, pumpkin. I’m glad you’re home for the week.”

“Me too.” I stayed in his embrace until I heard Taylor and Cage get out the car. Daddy kissed my cheek and let me go with his arms on my shoulders as he looked me over.

“You look good, Korren.”

“I get it from you.”

I loved saying that, knowing I was all Alana.

My father was the most handsome man in my eyes.

Unlike Kasey and me, Daddy’s melanated skin was rich in color and so were his earthy colored eyes.

His salt and pepper goatee stood out amongst his oval-shape face, matching the soft curls on his head.

Whenever he smiled, I envied the dimples sinking in his cheeks like craters.

He was handsome, and I often thought my mother was crazy for allowing him to get away.

“Daddy, this is my best friend, Taylor. Taylor, this is my father, Ali,” I introduced them, and Daddy embraced Taylor.

“It’s nice to meet you, Taylor. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you.”

“Likewise, Mr. Ali. Korren is crazy about you, so I feel like I know you personally already.”

Daddy chuckled. “That’s my pumpkin.”

Cage walked up with our bags. He and Daddy nodded at one another.

Daddy took my suitcase from him and led us all inside my childhood home.

In the divorce, my father was awarded the house, something I was beyond grateful for.

The five-bedroom, four-bathroom house was everything to me.

Daddy designed it himself when Alana was pregnant with Kasey.

“I see you went with the pastel green like I suggested,” I noted as we walked into the foyer and down the first hall on the right to my room. “It looks so good with the white.”

“It does. Even the painter said you did a good job picking it out.”

“I know a little something.”

We walked into my room, and nostalgia hit me hard.

Even though I’d only been away for a few months, it felt like forever.

I ran and jumped on my king-sized sleigh bed and expelled a pleased sigh.

Daddy hadn’t touched a thing in my room.

My walls were still a soft pink with pictures of me and all my friends decorating them.

My fluffy white bedding was neatly put together.

My walk-in closets were open, but I could see my clothes and shoes lined up the way I had them before. I missed it more than I realized.

Daddy excused himself, and seconds later, he returned with the cutest, light brown toy poodle. My eyes lit up as he placed her in my lap, and she cuddled up against me.

“I thought you could use some company, being away from home,” Daddy explained, smiling. “I have everything you’ll need for her, and she’s already had her first vet visit.”

I picked her up and laid her on my chest. “She’s perfect, Daddy. Thank you so much. I love her.”

“Cage and I figured you would.”

My head whipped around to stare at Cage who was leaning against the doorframe. He winked at me. To know he and my father worked together to surprise me spoke volumes. They didn’t have the best relationship, so I could only imagine how tough it was for them.

“Y’all are sneaky, but I appreciate y’all.”

“We got you, KoKo,” Cage assured me.

“We do. I’m about to go get started on dinner, but I need to ask you something first, pumpkin.”

“I’m listening.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the dinner with your mother? Kasey told me about it.”

I hunched my shoulders and continued petting my puppy who I was scrambling my brain to think of a name for. “I knew you would’ve contacted her, and I didn’t want to make things worse.”

“And you know I don’t give a fuck about any of that when it comes to you and your brother. Alana was dead wrong for that shit she pulled. Excuse my language, Taylor, but I don’t play when it comes to my kids. No matter how old they are.”

Whenever Daddy was upset, he cussed. Anything I said to try and justify keeping it from him would go in one ear and out the other, so I simply apologized and promised it wouldn’t happen again. He seemed to be satisfied with that.

Once Daddy was down the hall, Taylor snickered and plopped down on my futon across the room. “Damn. Ali doesn’t play, does he?”

“Not when it comes to me and Kasey. I’m glad he didn’t find out sooner, or he would’ve gotten into Alana’s ass, for sure.”

“As he should have. I’m on your dad and brother’s side with this. Have you talked to her since?”

“Of course. She reached out about a week later and acted as if nothing happened. I’m used to it, but the spoon I handle her with keeps getting longer and longer.”

“I don’t know if I want to meet her. She’ll immediately know I don’t like her.”

“Which is one reason you haven’t met her yet.”

Cage cleared his throat. “I’m about to head out. What y’all got up for the night?”

“Probably just chilling with Daddy.” I answered and rose to my feet, careful not to wake the puppy. “What about you?”

“Same, chilling with my girls. I’m trying to lay low all week, so I won’t be doing anything besides whatever you want to do.”

“We’ll see how that goes, Cage.”

“We will, KoKo. Call me if you need me. I love you.”

“I love you.”

I walked Cage to the door with Taylor on my heels. He waved at us before sinking into the driver’s seat and backing out the driveway. My eyes remained on his car until it was out of sight.

Was it crazy that I already missed him?